Today I start a journey. I hope you will come along. Mine started on Neff Road.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Why Then Oh Why Can't I

Somewhere Over the Rainbow was on the radio. Isreal Kamamawiwo'ole, a Hawaiian, was singing this arranged medley combining two songs into one. I was a little offended that someone would take such liberties with “my” song even though I really did like the rendition….and, it really wasn’t ‘my’ song.

“When all the world is a hopeless jumble and the raindrops tumble all around, Heaven opens a magic place.”

We all associate certain songs with certain times in our lives. Country Road played as we drove away from our farm home in Ohio heading toward a future in Wisconsin. When I broke up with my boyfriend years ago, it was Send in the Clowns. My separations was Bill; Havin’ My Baby was Stacey’s birth; my divorce was Daddy Don’t You Walk So Fast. On and on it has gone over the years.

"There's a land that I heard of once in a lullabye."

When I was a tiny girl, my Great-Uncle Jerry Loxley would occasionally come to the farm bringing with him a new piece of sheet music for me to learn. He would stand me next to the piano as he prepared to play it or his violin. I would sing my little heart out for this man. I adored him. He loved music and wanted me to love it as well. Our favorite song was “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”. With these words, I sang myself to sleep as a child. It was the first song I sang to my children in the womb and their first lullabye. It was with me on the family farm the last night I was there.

"And the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true."

Uncle Jerry opened a magic place for me. He gave me music. I’m not sure that anyone puts music into us. No, I think we are born with the music. For whatever Uncle Jerry put inside of my head was already met with understanding. I’m sure he is smiling that I finally get it.